My MSI MEG Ai1300P failed a few months ago, and the RMA replacement I received was an MPG Ai1300TS. The replacement is arguably newer and better in some ways: it has the Guard+ feature intended to help prevent damage to a high-end graphics card, and it carries a Titanium efficiency rating instead of Platinum. However, it has fewer SATA power connectors and is about 30 mm longer, which may prevent me from installing a second hard drive in my Fractal North XL case. The fit also looks fairly tight. I'm also unsure how to feel about being moved from MSI's MEG flagship line to the lower-tier MPG branding. Since MSI doesn't appear to make a direct MEG equivalent to this model, should I simply accept the replacement, or would it be reasonable to ask whether an Ai1600-class unit is available? I've never received a different product during an RMA and would appreciate advice on how to handle it.
3 Answers
If the only real problem is the missing SATA connectivity, adapters or SATA power splitters may solve that. A 2.5-inch SSD can also be mounted with adhesive or Velcro, although a mechanical hard drive should have a proper rigid mount. The PSU’s wattage rating by itself won’t increase your electricity bill—the computer draws the power its components require, with only the unit’s efficiency losses varying.
I’d probably keep the replacement. A new PSU with the newer protection feature and higher efficiency rating seems like a worthwhile trade for losing one SATA connector, especially if you don’t urgently need that extra drive bay. The MEG-versus-MPG label matters less than the actual specifications and warranty coverage.
You can certainly ask MSI why they substituted this model, but they likely did it because the original unit wasn’t available for replacement. I wouldn’t expect them to provide an Ai1600-class PSU, since that would be a substantial upgrade rather than a comparable replacement. Also check the exact clearance in your case before installing it; the extra length is the main practical downside.
Power efficiency is generally best somewhere around the middle of a PSU’s load range, but the difference is usually much smaller than people assume. What matters most is the system’s actual average power draw, not the maximum wattage printed on the PSU.